THE LAST BLOG

Two more days and then we’re packing our bags and boarding the plane.
How time has flown…
It’s a bittersweet feeling. Its sweet because I can’t WAIT to see everyone. Mom, Dad, Hope, Blesi, Stets, Colby, Mason, Mamma, Julie (and the twins) Rob, Katie-Boo, Gaby, Dan, Vince, Court, Sammi…everyone!! But it’s also bitter because, I’m leaving a place that has become home to me. A place that’s changed me. A place that holds memory after memory after memory. The kind of memories that only my family here in Africa can understand. I’ve fallen in love with everything about this country. The land, nature, people, children, smiles, hospitality, animals, weather. Just…everything!! And it’s going to tear me up inside to leave it all. Hopefully, with a lot of hard work and prayer…I’ll be back here again one day. Soon. =)
So two days…! All we are called to do now is finish strong. Not get overwhelmed with excitement or coming home, but to stay focused and not to let the things that we experienced here just be an experience or a moment. But to take everything in, and learn to now put all the things we learned these past 4 months into practice.
All I’m enabled to do is let the Lord prepare my heart. Prepare for the tests and temptations that are ahead of me. To remember the person that God has begun working in, and not look back or dwell on the things of my past.
I’m sure it’s harder said then done, but I’m not scared. I don’t fear the enemy. I’m not impressed by his schemes. But you know what I am impressed with? I’m impressed with the Lords power and strength; with His love for me, forgiveness, and grace. Now THAT is impressive.

So we left Cape Town a little over two weeks ago and we’ve come back to Mokopani, South Africa! (Inside Limpopo) Limpopo is where the Shikwaru Game Farm is, where we trained in the very very very beginning of the trip. And now we are back!!! It’s beautiful here. The farm is almost all green now. In August (which was winter) everything was dead and brown. It’s changed so much! A lot of the animals are out now. We’ve just finished our very last week of ministry and this week is break and the beginning of debrief. There are a bunch of conferences going on here, so we’ve kind of been tossed all over the Farm.
We had a very LOVELY surprise last week! Tasha and Kim Hoskins flew in and came to stay with us for a few days!! Kim was working on decorating the new BOH building, and Tasha was taking a pit stop here before she headed off to Swaziland for about a month. It was so nice to have her here!! Me, Catie and Tash roomed together for those few days.
So remember to keep Tasha in your prayers during her time in Swaziland. =)

The past two weeks we…
-Saw lions, held and feed lion cubs!
-Along with… hyenas’, zebra, giraffe, kudu, wart hogs, impala… everything!
-Switched camps several times
-Had MANY “bug” incidents (still occurring)
-Had a early Thanksgiving Dinner
-Game Drives
-Hired to be part of Shikwaru Game Farms commercial (that was an experience)
-Did hours and hours of survey imputing (not fun)
-Went to town
-Lunch with a Pastor and family
-Sean and I painted fences for hoursss
-Cleaned Shed
-Counted boxes and boxes of books IN shed
-packing
-cleaning
-dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians for Thanksgiving
-Had a "mini-Thanksgiving meal
-And tonight I'm babysitting for these two little farm kids. Ruban and Johan! =)
All that good stuff.

And that’s about it…
It’s been a pretty chill two weeks here. The days are dragged out. It’s a weird feeling when you go from going 100 mph to 10. But, it’s also good to take a breather after a few months like the months we had.
SO! All that to say… I’M COMING HOME!!!!!
I will be seeing all your lovely faces this Wednesday, December 3rd! (Well, family)
I can not even WAIT to tell you guys all about this experience and hopefully drag you guys along with me on my next journey!!!!! =) You guys have been more then I could ever ask for while I was gone. Your prayers have been heard and God has been with me every step of the way through this last season of my life. Without a doubt.

I still can’t believe how fast this all went by! I’m so excited to see you guys!!!!!! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

I’LL SEE YOU SOOON!!!!
-Charleeeeee!